Ian S.

General Info

• Certified Music Teacher

  Certified Music Teacher

  Our rigorous hiring process requires a completed application; an interview with our professional recruiting specialists; personal and professional reference checks; and annual criminal background checks for the duration of each teacher's employment with us.

  
• Background Check Complete

  Criminal Background Check

  In order to ensure the safety of our students, all teachers undergo a thorough criminal background check, which includes: Social Security number trace, multi-state criminal search and a nationwide sex offender registry search.

  
• Levels: Beginner to Advanced

• In-Home Lessons: No
• In-Studio Lessons: Yes
• Ages: 5 & up

Subjects Taught

Bass Guitar, Guitar, Piano, Music Performance, Songwriting

Education

Rutgers University - Chinese / Economics - 1994-1998 (Bachelor's degree received)

Specialties

I specialize in pop, rock, folk, and jazz, as well as beginner classical piano. I also teach improvisation and songwriting, and try to develop the student's ear for figuring out songs they like on their own.

Lesson Details

I am very laid back and friendly, and I want you or your child to be as comfortable as possible during our lessons. You or your child will develop confidence, and will start to lose that self-critical voice in your head. I will make your lessons fun, enjoyable, and effective. Boredom is not an option! Music is fun... let's keep it that way.

The teaching methods I use will be custom-tailored to your individual needs, personality and specific musical goals. If it's guitar or piano you ... want to learn, I want to get you playing exactly what you want to be playing as soon as possible. That's what you're here for, and that's what I'm here for. I will make it happen. If it's songwriting that you want to learn, I will help you access that place inside of you that is dying to express itself creatively, and will teach you techniques to harness that energy and translate it successfully into musical expression.

You can expect to learn all the basics of music theory, proper playing techniques, improvisation and spontaneous musical expression, and I will help you develop your "ear" so you can figure out songs you like just by listening to them. This is all about you and your goals, and I want you to achieve them in a fun and engaging way.

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About

A lifelong musician and songwriter, Ian S has extensive experience teaching guitar and piano to students age 3 and up both as a private music instructor and as a teacher at the Institute of Music for Children. With 25 years experience in guitar and piano, Ian has studied and performed with several award-winning music artists, and has written and recorded over one hundred songs. He plays and teaches a variety of styles on both the guitar and the piano, from classical to jazz to rock. Ian is ... patient, friendly, and loves sharing the gift of music.

Ian was the guitarist in the Princeton University Jazz Ensemble for 3 seasons, was selected from a nationwide pool of musicians to perform at a special music event at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and was the recipient of the New Jersey Governor's Award in Arts Education for the category of Instrumental Music.

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